Class Notes on Eating Disorders and Pica

Overview of Disorders Covered in Class

• Focus Areas:

  • Feeding and Eating Disorders
  • Elimination Disorders
  • Sleep-Wake Disorders

• Content Approach:

  • Emphasis on quiz-related material to streamline class time.
  • Use of videos as supplemental material to enhance understanding of key concepts.

Key Disorders Discussed

Feeding and Eating Disorders

• Anorexia Nervosa
  • Characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
• Bulimia Nervosa
  • Involves cycles of binge eating followed by purging behaviors.
• Binge Eating Disorder
  • Significant consumption of food in a short period, without compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging).

Pica Disorder

• Definition:

  • Persistent eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances over a period of at least one month.

• Common Non-Food Items Consumed:

  • Dirt, chalk, baby powder, and other inedible items.

• Cultural Considerations:

  • Must occur in a context not culturally supported or socially normative.

• Associated Conditions:

  • Can be linked to nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron or zinc).

Video Discussion: "My Strange Addiction"

• Example of Pica: Individual consuming a mattress.

• Health Concerns:

  • Risks include gastrointestinal blockage, malnutrition, and potential asphyxiation.

• Psychological Context:

  • Possible developmental or trauma-induced origins of the disorder.

Important Terminology

• ICD Codes:
  • Do not need to memorize; these auto-populate in electronic health records.
• Remission:
  • Defined as a sustained period of not meeting the criteria for the disorder.

Study Tips and Resources

• Study Guides:
  • Custom study guides will be provided, emphasizing quiz content.
• Visual Learning:
  • Use of comics and diagrams to illustrate and remember diagnostic criteria for personality disorders.

General Class Management Tips

• Instructor Insights:
  • Depending on student progress, continuous feedback helps to adjust teaching methods and focus.
• Upcoming Assignments:
  • Advance notice about upcoming papers and clinical assessments helps in timely preparation.